Introduction to Wireless Networking

What exactly does "wireless" mean?

Going "wireless" means your computer can connect to the net without wires in your home or office. While an internet connection such as dial-up, DSL or cable is still required, a wireless network will allow you to roam freely with your laptop while browsing the net. It will also allow you to connect from computers in other rooms without having to awkwardly run cables through hallways or up stairs.

Wireless networking is not the same thing as wireless mobile phone technology. It is more similar to "cordless" phones - the range is usually about the size of a house.

As shown on the diagram below, an access point, also called a wireless router or base station, connects the wireless network together and connects to the internet or to wired devices such as a printer.

What is required to go wireless?

 For a basic home wireless setup you will need a wireless card for your computer, and an access point, base station, or wireless router. The access point can be thought of as the broadcaster and the wireless card as the receiver. If you are planning to use your laptop primarily in hotels, airports, coffeeshops or similar locations that offer wireless internet access, you would then only need a wireless card (the coffee shop, hotel, or airport provides the access point in this case).

For help choosing the right wireless card, please use our Wireless Card Chooser.

Note: The access point may connect directly to a cable or DSL modem, or it may connect to an Ethernet router which in turn connects to a cable or DSL modem. Some access points, such as Apple AirPort base station, also have a built-in 56K modem which can be connected to a regular telephone line.

A Macintosh computer can wirelessly share an internet connection by connecting to the internet via an ethernet port and by using a MacWireless card to wirelessly distribute the internet connection to other computers with wireless cards.

In OS X (System Preferences:Sharing:Internet:Start), turn Internet Sharing on. Choose to share from the ethernet port and share to the wireless card.

In OS 9.x, Start the Software Base Station feature of the Airport application.